HARBOR BOARD EMPLOYEES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2202, 4 October 1907, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD EMPLOYEES.

LABORERS’ WAGES.

THE MEN’S VIEAV OF THE POSITION.

At last .meeting of tho Harbor Board ten of tho laboring hands employed on lacing work applied to havo tlioir rate of jiay increased from Is to Is lid per hour, hut tlio Board decided to tako no action. Tho fear was expressed that to raise the standard of pay would havo a farreaching clfcct, particularly in view of tho proposed bronkwator construction works.

On inquiry among tho men concerned, a “Times” representative learned that about 14 mou aro directly affected. They .are thoso employed on tho work of boring, small boats being anchored in tho channol, whilst tho drilling is tediously proceeded with by hand hour after hour. The constant clank, clank, with tho iron rod on the hard bottom is not too ous.y on tho forearm, but tho men soon become accustomed to it. Asked to explain tho conditions under which they work, our informant stated: “Wo work from 7t05 on fivo days of tlio week and from 7 to 4 on Saturdays, making a total of 53 hours per week. Wo aro paid Is an hour, but roceivo no overtime rate on occasions when we aro called upon to work after hours. There 'arc no concessions whatever allowed us, oven the hour earlier wo knock off on Saturday (and after a 53-hour week a man is not sorry when Sunday comes) is at our own, expense. AVo lose a good deal of time in tho wet season, owing to rains, floods, and rough winds preventing drilling work in tho river. I havo known my wago to drop to 30s in one or two weela, and taking the figures for tho past three, years—l havo kept « record—tho average is below tho £2 5s quoted to tho Board. Somo of tho men have not averaged that sum. In regard to statutory holidays, this Board does not allow for them, as I understand is done by other Boards. What wo want is 9s for 8 hours’ work, and considering tho cost of living this is not excessive. As rents and necessaries go Is per hour for 48 hours is a poor rate of pay for Gisborne. AVo work 5 hours over the 48, and should at least get paid for that extra hour per day at overtime rate. Rent alone costs from 10s to 12s a week for a medium-sized house anywhere near town, and I consider that with a wife and family to maintain a man cannot afford to pay more than ono day’s wage each week for rent. The majority are married men, .and not one has been less than 12 months in the Board’s service; one man has been 10 years with the Board. AA r o havo no union, .but lam sure that wore we .in a position to cito a case the Arbitration Court would see tho reasonableness of our demand for 9s for 8 hours’ work under such conditions. It is a fact that in the endeavor to fry and mako up our weeks wo have often worked in the pouring rain, without any possible shelter. Somo of our men, have left from time to time to take up work on the wharf, as lumbers got Is 4d per hour ordinary time, and the usual overtime rates. Lumpers frequently make moro in three days than we in tho Board’s service get for tho week.” As to whether granting tho increase would fix the standard for the district, tho men seem to differ. “Our case should bo considered on its merits,” said, one of their number. “AVo havo nothing to do with anyone olse’s wa"es. I’m free to express by opinion, though, that tlio Board will bo mistaken if they think Is an hour a fair rate of pay for work in connection with the proposed breakwater. Wit'll tho distance to travel, loss of time, etc., that pay won’t attract many men.”